Social pedagogy as a model to provide support for siblings of children with intellectual disabilities: A report of the views of the children and young people using a sibling support group.

The experiences of non-disabled children growing up with a sibling with an intellectual disability vary considerably, with reported impact ranging from increased mental health problems through evaluations of life enhancement. However, there is evidence that the net impact is neutral to positive, which was supported by the findings of this report of a service evaluation survey. The value of providing support to those young siblings is however clear.

Improving communication when caring for acutely ill patients with dementia.

People living with dementia have complex needs, which may be compounded when they develop an acute illness. It is vital to recognise any deterioration in a patient and respond appropriately to prevent serious complications and, in some cases, mortality. It is necessary for all healthcare professionals to develop assessment skills that take account of potential communication difficulties.

Depression in primary care patients with coronary heart disease: baseline findings from the UPBEAT UK study.

Background: An association between depression and coronary heart disease is now accepted but there has been little primary care research on this topic. The UPBEAT-UK studies are centred on a cohort of primary patients with coronary heart disease assessed every six months for up to four years. The aim of this research was to determine the prevalence and associations of depression in this cohort at baseline.

The UPBEAT nurse-delivered personalized care intervention for people with coronary heart disease who report current chest pain and depression: a randomised controlled pilot study.

Background: Depression is common in people with coronary heart disease (CHD) and associated with worse outcome. This study explored the acceptability and feasibility of procedures for a trial and for an intervention, including its potential costs, to inform a definitive randomized controlled trial (RCT) of a nurse-led personalised care intervention for primary care CHD patients with current chest pain and probable depression.

Methods: Multi-centre, outcome assessor-blinded, randomized parallel group study.

A study of psychotic symptoms in borderline personality disorder.

Patients with borderline personality disorder (BPD) report psychotic symptoms, but it has been questioned whether they are intrinsic to BPD. Thirty patients meeting Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fourth Edition (DSM-IV), criteria for BPD were drawn from a specialist personality disorder service. Exclusion criteria included a preexisting clinical diagnosis of nonaffective psychotic disorder.

'It's like having a day of freedom, a day off from being ill': exploring the experiences of people living with mental health problems who attend a community-based arts project, using interpretative phenomenological analysis.

To explore the psychosocial benefits of participating in a 2-year community arts project, eight people living with long-term mental health problems were interviewed. The project involved participants in selecting items of professional artwork, creating personal responses and curating a public exhibition. Interviews were analysed using interpretative phenomenological analysis.

The introduction of an early warning signs journal in an adolescent inpatient unit.

Early warning signs are considered to be one of the many tools utilized by specialist early intervention practitioners and other mental health professionals to assist young people how to recognize a deterioration in their mental state or if a relapse is indicated. This article focuses on the role that early warning signs recognition has played in a Child and Adolescent inpatient setting in the form of a journal that is used to record a young person's personal journey by recording early warning signs to prevent a future relapse. Feedback on the use of the journal has been positive from the young people who have utilized the journal and it has also been viewed as a useful and practical framework to identify key symptoms that may potentiate a relapse into illness.

Adopting a psychological approach to obesity.

In response to the growing challenge of obesity, South Essex Partnership University NHS Foundation Trust and South West Essex Primary Care Trust established a joint initiative to provide a psychological service for adults who were obese and had not been able to manage their weight through traditional methods. This article describes a pilot project providing psychological support for adults with chronic or morbid obesity. It presents the rationale for this approach and describes the service and preliminary outcome data.